SOUTH AFRICA’S ATTITUDE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22795, 22 August 1939, Page 10

SOUTH AFRICA’S ATTITUDE

SOLIDITY WITH BRITAIN UNDOUBTED UNION ARCHITECT’S VIEWS [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, August 21. There can be no doubt about the Union of South Africa’s attitude in an Empire emergency, according to Mr Robert Howden, who passed through Auckland by the Monterey on his way to Washington to represent the Union Government at the fifteenth International Congress of Architects. The Union Government, he said, would support Britain “through thick and thin. To appreciate the conflict of opinion in the Union. Mr Howden said, it was necessary to realise that of its 10 000,000 inhabitants 2,000,000 were white people and 8,000,000 were natives. Of the whites, 57 per cent, were Dutch and 34 per cent. English, the remainder being foreigners. It could be seen, therefore, that the Dutch or Afrikaans were sufficient in number to rule the country. However, because the reasonable type of Dutchman joined with the English in their political views the Union was able to have a Government representing a moderate viewpoint. There were, of course, extreme Afrikaans. They had always been there and always would be there, and were very actively anti-British in their opinions and actions. They wanted a republic, but there seemed to be no reason why they would ever achieve a majority vote. As a result, Parliament now represented the level-headed section of people. They were attached firmly to Britain, and there was no doubt that if Britain was forced into war South Africa would help her. Both the English and Dutch sections of the people represented in Parliament would take this action. Mr Howden also expressed considerable admiration lor the Dutchmen in the Government. There were undoubtedly some very brilliant men among them. Speaking of the Union’s home defence effort, Mr Howden said that the Government was very active in its preparations. The necessity was realised, and the Government was facing it very efficiently. His personal opinion was that conscription would ultimately be brought into operation in the Union. Mr Howden is an Australian by birth. He went to South Africa.about 50 years ago. He has established himself as a leading architect, and was instrumental in obtaining statutory qualification for architects, the Union being the first country in the British Empire to have registration of architects. Mr Howden was first president-in-chief of the South African Institute of Architects, which he. is also representing' at the Washington Conference, and in recognition of his work for the profession a scholarship in his name was founded at the University of South Africa.